October 5, 2016 – London-based executive search firm Per Ardua Associates has appointed Kate Hammar as leader of its financial services real estate practice. She will be responsible for developing the firm’s real estate search capability.

Prior to joining Per Ardua, Ms. Hammar was managing director at Sousou Partners, the international real estate search firm, where she spent the last seven years. She worked across a number of functions in real estate, including private equity, investment management, capital raising and investor relations, investment banking, debt and development across Europe and the Middle East.

Prior to joining Sousou Partners, she worked for Russell Reynolds Associates as a member of the firm’s global banking & markets practice. She began her career at a financial services boutique, providing research and execution.

Second Big Hire of the Year

“I am so pleased to be welcoming Kate into the firm. She is one of the leading search professionals in the financial services real estate market and will be a great fit to our team,” said Simon Hearn, chief executive officer of Per Ardua Associates. “This is a further broadening of our financial services recruitment capabilities at the high end. Kate is our second big hire this year, alongside Sally Talbot who runs our senior HR recruitment practice.”

“I am very excited to join Per Ardua at the end of the year and I look forward to building a new practice area within the firm,” said Ms. Hammar. “The breadth and depth of its financial services expertise stands Per Ardua apart from its competitors and is something that is highly prized by its clients.”

A Brexit Opportunity

Over recent years, a number of international real estate investors have struggled to operate in a booming market, said Ms. Hammar. “Many now see Brexit as an opportunity to pick up distressed assets and invest in London property, made cheaper by the collapse of the pound. Companies are going to have to be more strategic than ever in their hiring at every level to ensure they have the best talent to thrive in these exciting but uncertain times.”

Per Ardua Associates is an executive search firm specializing in the financial services sector. It provides a highly focused recruitment service at the board and senior executive level, including market feedback, competitor intelligence surveys and views on organizations.

It is no secret that the real estate market has suffered in certain locales over the last several years. Improvements within the industry are evident, but there is still a dire need for executive talent in the real estate field — executives who are not only tuned into the realities of today but have a vision for more prosperous times ahead.

According to the 2016 ‘Real Estate Hiring Forecast’ report released by Ferguson Partners, 93 percent of the largest real estate companies either forecast an increase in hiring or maintaining their same level of hiring. In prior years, there was much higher demand for executives who could either invest or raise capital. This year’s report found much more of a focus on individuals who can drive value and cash flow in assets.